ENRONGATE 1: Prince took £1m

THE Prince of Wales's charity was given £1m by Enron. The energy corporation's contribution to the Prince's Trust was acknowledged at a personal visit by Prince Charles to the Texas home of chief executive Kenneth Lay.

Charles was guest of honour at a private lunch in Houston attended by Enron executives and influential corporate guests in 1993.

The Enron sponsorship of the Prince's Trust began in 1991 at the suggestion of the US group's then head of European business, Ralph Hodge. Enron was America's seventh largest corporation and the money helped fund the charity's work with disadvantaged youngsters. In return, selected executives were given access to Charles and invited to functions at St James's Palace.

A spokeswoman for the Prince's Trust said: 'Over a period of eight years between 1991 and 1999, Enron did donate £1m to the Prince's Trust in a number of donations. We have a number of corporate supporters who donate sums towards running our volunteer programme and business programme. We are an organisation which relies on corporate donations, industry and fundraising. We are not a fluffy charity so we don't get many personal donations.'

She said of Enron: 'The £1m donation makes them a very valuable supporter but not our biggest. The Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed to give us £10m over a three-year period and the European Investment Fund is giving £3.7m over a period of years.'

She added: 'Like most charities, it would be normal for our major corporate supporters to attend appropriate events or functions.'

Mr Hodge, who was awarded the CBE for 'services to the power generation and gas industries' last year, was invited to a number of events hosted by the Prince, including a glittering reception at St James's Palace.

Charles visited Mr Lay's luxury home in February 1993 on the way to an official tour of Mexico.

A spokeswoman at St James's Palace said: 'He met some Enron representatives who introduced him to other potential corporate donors. It is a very routine part of the Prince's Trust to meet corporate donors - 70% of the companies in the FTSE 100 have been involved with the Prince's Trust.'

ENRONGATE 1: The Prince who took £1mENRONGATE 2: The Murdoch guru who puffed Enron's businesses in Sunday Times columnsENRONGATE 3: The BBC chairman who was an adviser to Gordon Brown...and EnronENRONGATE 4: The extraordinary history of the flat bought by the Chancellor from Enron's accountants ENRONGATE 5: Robinson paid Labour's £500,000 bill